PBOCEEDINGS 



HOLMESDALE NATUEAL HISTOEY CLUB. 



Evening Meeting. — Januaey 14th, 1881. 



A LECTUKE, at which the pubUc were present, was given by 

 Mr. B. Lomax, of the Museum, Brighton, entitled "Manners 

 and Customs of the Flowers." After some prefatory remarks 

 the lecturer went on to speak of the apparent intelligence of 

 flowers, referring to instances in which, from the various 

 ways in which they behave under varying circumstances, or 

 even sometimes imder similar circumstances, it might almost 

 be supposed that they possess the power of reason. In the 

 case of some Enghsh plants introduced into the Botanic 

 Gardens at Melbourne considerable diversity of conduct was 

 observable ; some individuals flowered at the time at which 

 they were accustomed to in England, through the Australian 

 winter, and others adapted themselves at once to the changed 

 seasons. The lecturer then spoke of the harmony of colours 

 that often prevails amongst flowers that habitually grow in 

 close proximity, such as the Dog-violet and Primrose ; and 

 he attributed this in part to the effects produced by the 

 various rays of hght as to heat, electricity, &c. He further 

 spoke of the way in which plants are constantly regenerating 

 the earth, and referred to the part performed by lichens and 

 mosses after the death of a tree, in keeping its organic 

 substance from going back to an inorganic state. He referred 

 also to the modes of growth met with in different plants, 

 some being of a zigzag character, others spiral, in which case 

 it is often found that the leaves are so placed that five leaves 



